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Watch: Portia Woodman-Wickliffe breaks All Blacks great’s try record
By Finn Morton at Sandy Park, Exeter
Black Ferns winger Portia Woodman-Wickliffe has become the first New Zealand rugby player to score 50 Test tries, having touched down for a history-making score against Japan at the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup.
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Former All Blacks winger Doug Howlett held New Zealand’s try-scoring record since the 2007 Men’s Rugby World Cup, having scored 49 tries in less than 65 appearances, while the trio of Christian Cullen, Joe Rokocoko and Julian Savea previously sat in equal second.
Woodman-Wickliffe has gone one clear of the pack, setting the new all-time record with some individual brilliance against Japan. There was a sense of anticipation from the crowd in Exeter when Woodman-Wickliffe got the ball, and the No. 14 didn’t disappoint.
About 10 minutes after Japan took a shock five-nil lead, Woodman-Wickliffe got the ball from Braxton Sorensen-McGee close to the right sideline. With plenty of work still to do, Woodman-Wickliffe ran more than 40 metres up field, breaking two tackles in the process.
“This is the danger woman! This is Portia Woodman-Wickliffe,” the commentator on RugbyPass TV exclaimed.
“Portia Woodman-Wickliffe is not going to be stopped. And Portia Woodman-Wickliffe is in! That is try number 50 and with it written… no one, man or woman, has ever scored more in the black jersey.
“She’s the greatest try-scorer New Zealand rugby has ever seen.”
Half a century of tries 🤩
Portia Woodman-Wickliffe’s legacy grows even greater 🙇♀️#RWC2025 | #NZLvJPN https://t.co/ODi6dbLOiW pic.twitter.com/5h9WiR3hGu
ADVERTISEMENT— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) August 31, 2025
The crowd became increasingly vocal with each Woodman-Wickliffe stride. Woodman-Wickliffe is already considered the ‘GOAT’ by many in women’s rugby, with the New Zealander breaking numerous records and receiving countless accolades in both sevens and 15s.
Woodman-Wickliffe is not only the most prolific try-scorer in Black Ferns and All Blacks history, she is also a dual Rugby World Cup winner (2017 & 2022) and a two-time Olympic gold medallist, having retired from sevens after the Paris Games.
In sevens, Woodman-Wickliffe also helped New Zealand win medals at the Rugby Sevens World Cup, the Commonwealth Games, and the HSBC SVNS Series. In 2024, the Black Ferns Sevens great also became the first player ever to score 250 international tries in sevens.
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Woodman-Wickliffe has received Player of the Year awards in both sevens and 15s, and the Kiwi was also named the Sevens Player of the Decade. In 15s, the 34-year-old’s list of achievements speak for themselves – a trailblazer and icon of the sport.
“It sets the tone for all women in sport, all women rugby players, anything is achievable with a supportive environment and an absolute belief in yourself, but again it comes down to the team and environment,” Woodman-Wickliffe said earlier this week when asked about potentially breaking Howlett’s record.
“I am extremely proud to have scored as many tries as I have. What I would love to impart to any young athlete coming through is to chase your dreams, you never know where it’s going to end up. Just have a crack at it.
“Sometimes it feels like a cringe moment that I retired and did this big announcement and now I’m back! It’s exciting. I love rugby, I love the girls,” Woodman-Wickliffe added.
“These ones give me stick day in, day out and that’s why I love the game. To be able to chase these achievements is an amazing opportunity. What I love the most is the people and playing the game and I couldn’t say no when I was so close to this opportunity as well.”
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